The UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Conference will take place in Accra, Ghana, for the first time ever; this will be the event’s first hosting on the African continent.
At a press briefing on Sunday, November 3, 2023, Defense Minister Dominic Nitiwul provided information that highlighted the importance of the international meeting scheduled for December 5 and 6.
“The decision to move the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Conference to Accra is a testament to Ghana’s growing role in international peacekeeping efforts,” stated Minister Nitiwul.
Journalists from all over the world, as well as heads of international organizations, academia, social partners, civil society organizations, and foreign and defense ministers, will be welcomed by Ghana, which is now hosting the UN Special Committee on Peacekeeping. Nitiwul pointed out that the conference is a crucial occasion for the UN, second only to the annual General Assembly meeting in New York.
The conference will cover important topics such the role of women in peacekeeping, the protection of civilians, the mental health of peacekeepers, safety and security, and strategic communications. It is anticipated that 80 to 100 member states and over 600 registered delegates would participate.
“As a country that has surpassed UN targets for the inclusion of women in peacekeeping operations, Ghana is honored to initiate further discussions on this vital issue,”Minister Nitiwul highlighted.
The two-day event will begin with a welcoming ceremony at the Accra International Conference Centre. In partnership with Sweden and the US, side discussions on the subjects of “women in peacekeeping” and “environmental aspects of peacekeeping” will be held throughout the event.
After panel discussions on the chosen themes, the main conference on the second day will be addressed by His Excellency the Vice President of the Republic. One of the main attractions will be a digital exhibit that highlights Africa’s participation in the UN Peacekeeping effort.
Ghana is committed to using the conference as a chance to forge bilateral and multilateral collaborations, according to Minister Nitiwul. In closing, he emphasized the conference’s vital importance to Ghana and the African continent as a whole.
Source: Marzuuq Issah | Ghana360news.com
